Rope



April 3, 1946. R. F. WARREN, JR 2,399,157

ROPE

Filed June 19 1940 INVENTOR. emuneo F. wneaslu Je.

' ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 23,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE ROPE Richard F. Warren, Jr., Stratford,Conn. Application June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341.352 I 11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ropes.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein satisfactory embodiments of theinvention are shown. However it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variationsand modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a short section of the rope of theinvention a portion of the outer strands being broken away and part 'ofthe core being shown as never having had the outer strands laid aboutthe same;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged transverse sectional view taken as alongthe line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a rope core alone;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing anothermodification of the rope core:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing a modificationof rope; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing another modification ofrope.

Referring in detail to the drawing and at first more particularly toFigs. 1 and 2 at I21 is shown a rope including a main core I28 overwhich are laid strands I28 each comprising a core III and a series ofwires I32 laid or twisted over such core. Strands I29 are circular intransverse section although the invention is not limited to suchconstruction.' For use in drag lines and the like other shapes ofstrands and elements may be employed as, for example, wedge ortriangular shaped strands and elements may be used. The main core I 28is a bar-like filament and prior to incorporation in the cable is ofconstant diameter and round in transverse section. As will laterdevelope, this core is extruded. Core III and engaged the same on allsides by the strands I" whereby such strands are uniformly supportedthroughout the length of the rope.

Fig. 3 shows a core separate from any other rope structure. This coregenerally designated H1. comprises a plurality of small diametervinylidene chloride filaments Ill twisted together. Core I31 is quiteflexible and provides considerable surface area for the application oflubricant.

Core I31 has many desirable characteristics and particularly where it ismade of a large number of relatively small diameter filaments it issubstantially circular in transverse section and provides a uniformsupport for strands laid about it. However the core is but looselytwisted and care should be taken in unreeling it so that it does notuntwist whereby it may be kept with the foreheart originally laid intoit.

Fig. 4 shows a construction wherein the vinylidene chloride, of whichthe core generally designated I is formed, has first been cut or formedinto strips. Thereafter the strips are twisted to provide filaments Iand any desired number of these are twisted together to provide thecore. A core made by the twisting up of a single strip of the materialmay be used. However, for larger or main cores a plurality of strips aretwisted together to provide the core with the desired solidcharacteristics and with the desired resiliency and elasticity.

Fig. 5 shows a rope including fillers I13. In such figure the rope isgenerally designated I14 and the same includes a number of strandsdesignated respectively I15, I16, I11, I18, I19 and I each made up of anumber of wires or metallic elements. The strands are arranged about acentral core Ill which may be of hemp or other natural fibres or of anyof the plastics, the characteristics of which have been set forth. Infact the core may be of metal strands if so desired and if of plastic,may be any of the constructions of cores heretofore considered.

Each of the strands of the present rope is made up of a number ofmetallic elements or wires Ill and of a number of smaller diametermetallic elements I" (of which five are shown) and of the fillers I13 ofvinylidene chloride. At the center of each strand is an element I ofmetal or of plastic.

The rope I14 is much more flexible than It would be if the fillerelements I13 were of metal. These elements do not add particularly tothe tensile strength of the rope but they do serve to prevent the metalelements thereof from nicking one another and act as cushions for suchelements; Additionally when loaded with lubricant as they may well be,the fillers I13 serve to retain the lubricant and free it as mayberequired during use of the rope as disclosed in my copendingapplication.

Fig. 6 shows a Scale type rope generally designated I85 and comprisingsixstrands I86, I81, I88, I89, I90 and I9! arranged about a main centralcore I92 of natural fibres or of the construction of any of the coresI31 and I above mentioned. Each'strand of rope I85 comprises a pluralityof wires or metal elements I93 ar ranged in a circle about and in spacedrelation to a central metal element I94 and about said central elementand between it and the larger outer wires I93 is a ring of vinylidenechloride filaments res. These plastic filaments do not make for a ropeor cable having the tensile strength of a rope or cable wherein thementioned elements are oi steel, but have more strength. than if naturalfibre is used.

The plastic filaments make tor a rope or cable of great flexibility andin addition the plastic filaments act as cushions preventing nicliing oithe inner and outer metal elements on one another. As the rope is laidand as it is used, the various stresses set up in it will result indeformation of the plastic filaments from the precise form in which theyare shown but the plastic material will be present between the inner andouter metallic elements to function as a cushion and when loaded withlubricant will serve to retain and feed the latter as it may be neededduring use of the rope.

In making the rope of the invention each of the filaments (metallic andnon-metallic) is preformed or formed on a helix whereby the filements ina strand interfit with one another without stress. Thus should anyfilament become broken the ends of such filament will not have atendencyto spread outwardly of the zone of the body of the strand andwill,resist unstranding and thus remain in place giving something to thestrength of the assembly. This same preforming opera tion is carried outin connection with the strands made of the preformed filaments wherebythe strands being formed into helices will lie in an unstressed neutralcondition in the ropes.

The preformed construction has little internal stress and therefore,ropes made as described will lie in a flat or straight condition with noreal tendency to snarl or twist. When the ropes are to be cut it is notnecessary to seize the ends as they will not unlay. Also such ropes havea longer life when run on sheaves; they are easier to splice; resistrotating in grooves; spool or coil perfectly and resist whipping.

While in connection with the disclosed embodiments of the invention thevarious non-metallic filaments and cores have been described as 01!vinylidene chloride it is to be understood that such material is theplastic preferred in the making of my ropes but that other plastic maybe used. Generally speaking the non-metallic filaments or cores compriseorganic plastic ma-' terials or certain inorganic natural plastic materials as glass fibres, quartz fibres, or Bentonite (in the form known asAlsifilm) although asbestos has been found useful for my presentpurpose.

In fact some of the organic plastics may be used with clay or othercheap fillers as well as with fillers or cotton, silk, wool, waste endsfrom rope making, or other fibrous materials both natural and synthetic.Thus cotton, silk, wool, rayon aaoauv and other regenerated celluloses,or other fibrous material may be used in the form of flock, stablefibres, threads, swatches of woven iabrics or impregnated sheets cut tostrips for twisting into elements or strands. In addition cellulosederivatives while in alpha and beta stage may be used as fillers and totoughen the material.

Vinylidene chloride possesses about all of the characteristics required.It is oil, acid, and

alkali resistant, non-inflammable, has the de-.

sired modulus of elasticity, tensile, abrasive and fiexural strength, isresilient, will not oxidize, is not adversely affected by sun or otherlight rays and has exceptionally low solvents. Further it is for themost part (as are the other vinyl derivatives) resistant to corrosivehalides such as chlorlne and bromine and also to mustard gas. Vinylidenechloride is permanently water proof and is not afiected by bacteria andwill not support fungus growth and so is not likely to decay throughbiochemical attack. The vinyliclene chloride (sold commercially asVeiialloy) is in most respects mentioned herein similar to another vinylcompound. sold commercially as Vlnyon. However the latter is not asdesirable due to the necessary use of plasticizers which dissipate intime making the material very brittle.

Vinylidene chloride has a critical point of set in that such materialwhen stretched to the point of most yield has a return of about 10percent. The stretching must be accomplished within a short timefollowing extrusion as otherwise the material must be soaked in heat tocause it to return to random orientation to prevent the formation ofcracks in its surface.- Plastic filaments having a fixed amount ofstretch and return provide a rope which gradually takes up its load.Where such filaments are used in a rope also having metal elements thefeature of stretch is present since the metal elements may straightenand squeeze-into the plastic filaments providing for elongation of therope. The parts will return to normal on being relieved of the load. Theinitial portion of the stretch is most easily obtained and as the ropeelongates each succeeding degree of elongation requires a greater orincreased load so that the load in any given instance is gradually takenup.

The non-metallic filaments, and cores of the rope of the invention maybe of any of the various plastics as above sug ested and such plasticsinclude synthetic resins, natural and synthetic lastics, cellulose (asethyl cellulose) and its derivatives, protein plastic substances (asnylon), and petroleum plastic derivatives. There are several chemicaltypes of synthetic resins such as (1) phenol-aldehydic resins, (2)amino-aldehydic resins, (3) hydroxycarboxylic resins, (4) sulphonamideresins, (5) resins from sugar, (6) vinyl resins including resins fromvinyl derivatives, (7) indene resins and (8) lignin plastic substances.The polymerization resins and particularly the vinyl resins includingresins from vinyl derivatives are preferred for my purpose.

Under the type (I) may be included resins such as phenol formaldehyde,cresol and cresylic acid, other tar acids and formaldehydes, phenolfurfuraldehyde or other tar acids and other aldehydes. Under type (2) isincluded urea and formaldehyde resins, and aniline resins obtained bycondensing aniline and formaldehyde and other anilines or amines andother aldehydes.

Under type (3) I include materials produced by the esteriflcation ofpolybasic acids with poly hydric alcohols. Such materials-are frequentlycalled alkyd resins, this title including adiplc acids resins obtainedby the condensation oi.

adipic acid and glycerin or by the condensation vinyl butyrate, vinylchloride, acrylic resins from vinylcarbonic acid ester, vinyl carbonicacid, vinyl benz ole or polystyrol, divinyl or butadiene, vinyl ester orvinyl chloride, copolymerized polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl acetate(known commercially as Vinylite) vinyl acetate, polymers of vinylhalides combinedwith diflerent percentages of plasticizers (knowncommercially as Koroseal) the commercial article known as Vistanex andcomprising polyiso butylene polymerized with boron trifluoride and alsocomprising polyiso butadiene having a tacky to rubber-like structure,the commercial products known as Vinyon (a 00-. yolymer of polyvinylchloride and polyvinyl acetate), Butacite (a reaction product of vinylacetate resin with butyraldehyde), and Rezel (resulting from the factthat the introduction of an unsaturated resinous ester of the maleatepolyester type into a compound of the type has the property of curingthe latter), the polymer of ester of acrylic acid known commercially asPlexigum, polymers of the esters of methacrylic acids such as thepolymethacrylic resin sold as Lucite and Plexiglas. Isobutyl methacrylicresins, certain plastic obtained by mixing the monomer of styrene withvinylidene chloride and' with ethylene glycol and maleic acid andcopolymerizing the mixture, styrene and in addition thereto the resinknown as po y Resins of the indene group (type '1) include polyindeneand poly-cumaron. Under type (8) I include lignin and its derivativesextracted from paper mill waste waters and other sources. The lignin maybe separated into various chemical components of no value to me here butalso into colored gums and by various treatments into clear transparentresins useful for my present purpose. Lignin is hydrogenated with Raneynickel catalyst, in aqueous solution yielding methanol,propylcyclohexane, hydroxy propylcyclohexanes, and a colorless resinwhich may again be separated into an alkali soluble in an alkaliinsoluble c0mp0- nent. I use either of these components in theproduction of resins to be used in the making of ropes.

Under the heading of natural and synthetic lastics, I include as naturallastics-Balata, rubber, gutta percha and latex to be used alone or as acoating or processed -r compounded with other materials. As thesynthetic lastics I mention polymerized chloroprene (of the type nowsold as neoprene); polymerized butadiene (of the type sold as Buna orPerbunan); polymethylene polysulphide (of the type sold as Thiokol)chlorinated rubberiof the type sold as Tomesit); rubber hydrochloride(oi the type sold as Plionlm); and isomerized rubber (of the'type soldas Pliform) and any latex of these. Also sulphonated rubber or syntheticsulphonates to promote wire adhesion.

Certain materlals'sometimes called synthetic lastic I prefer to includeunder the heading of vinyl derivatives. For example, it appears that thepolymerized vinyl derivative known commercially as Vistanex (polyisobutylene and polyiso butadiene) might be included under either group.Such material is used in the present instance when mixed with othermaterials and has certain lubricating properties or value in the makingof ropes.

Under the heading of cellulose and it deriva tives I include celluloseacetate; regenerated cellulose; cellulose xanthate; benzylcellulose;ethylcellulose; cellulose hydrate; cellulose triacetate; celluloseacetobutyrate; cellulose acetopropionate; hydrolysed cellulose acetateand others of the Y cellulose esters and ethers. Railan a rayon threadmade from cellulose extracted from sugar cane may'also be used. Most ofthese materialscan be used alone for my purpose in the making of ropesand can be used in the form of filaments or may be cut to strips fromsheets and then the strips twisted into filaments, such as those hown atI of Fig. '4. Also certain of these materials may be used with othermaterials herein ment ioned for the purpose of toughening the latter.

' Nitrocellulose compounded with other materials of a less flammablenature or of a nature to prevent flammability, may be used. Halowax orthe like may be used for compounding with nitrocellulose and it i notedthat the latter in so far as cost, strength and the like are concerned,is a desirable material for my purpose. Other noninflammableplasticizers which may be compounded with nitrocellulose-for my purposeare monophenyl phosphate and di (paratertiary butyl phenyl) mono. l5tertiary butyl 2 xenyl phosphate; The-flammable nature of nitrocellulose.may be weakened or lessened by mixing with varying proportions ofcellulose acetate. Under this class may also be included gel cellulosewhich may be used for my purpose. This material may be used as a fillerwith other materials herein mentioned.

Under the heading of protein plastic substances, I include caseinpreferably in the fibrous form sold as Lactoill and Lanital made byeither the wet or dry process. The material sold as Zein, and whichcomprises a raw material in the form of a powder, may by extrusion orthe like be converted into fibres for use here. Polypentamethylenesebacamide sold as nylon may also be used. Regenerated silk made byreducing waste silk and waste cocoons containing silk and then formingit into threads or sheets to be cut to strips, is also believed to fallunder the present heading.

That group of compounds of which at least one is obtained bycondensation polymerization from a'diamine and a dibasic carboxylic acidand of which one is now sold under the trade-mark Exton is very usefulfor my present purpose.

Another protein plastic which may be used is obtained by extracting theprotein from the rei'use remaining after the oil has been extracted fromsoy beans, oiticica nuts. and other protein bearing substances. Theextracted protein is properly reacted to form plastic substances. Hereit is noted that oiticlca oil may be used as a plasticizer with styreneto make the latter more suitable for my purpose.

Collagen plastics are another protein substance suitable for my purpose.Such plastics -are fibrous. The collagen may be recovered from the fromcoilee may also be used.

The petroleum plastic derivatives include those gums or resins obtainedby the oxidation or controlled polymerization of certain distillates oipetroleum cracking. Thus I may use the commercially known Santoresins"produced by this method. as well as "PctropoP which is a softer type ofthe same material. These materials are, when used for my purpose, to bemixed with other materials listed above whereby the resultant mass maybe shaped by extruding or the like to pro-- vide threads or sheets ofmaterials having desired characteristics. Propane precipitated resinslotion of crude petiole u. may be or other aldehydes, hydrogenates. orchlorin ted either at elevated temperatures or by the addition ofmetallic halides. For use as rope cores comprising large diameter barsand the like, the ma terials are advantageous. The natural inorganicmaterials above mentioned may be used in the plac of the organicplastics in certain instances. The glass or the quartz must be madeplastic by heat and then it is spun or extruded in fibres and the latterare oriented and brought together to form strands or cores as the casemay be.

Plastics comprising nitrogenous condensation products are also suitablefor use in the making of various rope elements of the invention. Onesuch plastic is now on the market under the name Nulaminef' Preferablywhen glass, fused quartz or other materials which may be made intofibres of great tensilestrength are used as a material in the making ofropes, it is incorporated into strands or cores or other elements andsuch elements may be either solid one piece structures or they may bemade up of a number of separate elements. The

filaments, strands or cores comprise a plastic or a combination oiplastics having the inorganic 'fibres embedded therein and oriented toextend ented. The presence of these oriented fibres very greatlyincreases the tensile strength or the illsments or cores and thus of theropes into which they may be incorporated.

Bentonite, in especially pure form, may be mixed with water to form itgel. The gel is evap orated and the particles draw toward one anotherand. become permanently fixed. by their attraction for one another. instrings or tiny fibrils.

These mat together to form a tough coherent film. The bentonite may beextruded in the form of filaments or alter beina formed into sheets maybe cut into strips and the latter twisted into his ments. such filamentsto be used as above in the iormation of strands or cores; stressing ofthese sols produces orientation desirable for strenflth. Under thesaneral beading or asbestos, I include the fibrous varieties or themineral ampbibolc,

- closed herein and which are chemically imamascent? waste fromtanneries or otherwise. Variou resins the fibrous forms of pyroxene, themineral crucidolite or the amphibole group and also chrysotilc. Theprincipal varieties or asbestos are anthopyllite, amphibole andserpentine. Asbestos floats of any variety may be used as fillers whilethe longer fibres may be made into filaments for strands or cores.

Various combinations or the materials disclosed may be used for thepurpose oi! regulation resiliency, stillness, bacteria growth, funguserowth, water-prooiness, controlling the melting or sortening point,control of strength factors, as elasticity, tensile and shear strength,aiding in lubrication and the like. Many of the materials dis- ..as byreason oi? being too brittle and the like my be mixed with othermaterials and in that way utilized for the characteristics they may1111-- Dart.

. Formaldehyde and urea resins as well as any chlorinated material(certain synthetic lastics), and the like have germicidal properties andwhen used with other materials included herein will serve to prevent orarrest bacteria growth and thus decomposition of the filaments or coresdue.

filaments or single bar-like elements or consid-.

er'able 'diameter are employed) are oriented. Where preformed structuresare employed it is preferred that the molecules oi the filaments beoriented in a direction parallel to the axial centers o! the filaments.That is, the molecules are oriented in a direction parallel to thecenter or a helical line (the longitudinal center line or the filaments)rather than the parallel relation to a straight line. This isaccomplished. by stretchin: the material through a helicfl Thus in mypreformed strands or filaments I avoid obstinote internal stresses whichcause a wildness oi fibre. The strands, cores or ropes made or thefilaments oriented as described will have increased tensile strength andextra resistance to twisting and bending, and will lay in o, ropewithout opposing stresses tending to open. rope.

In orienting the filaments (whether unread-like or bar-like) they arereduced to the desired diameters by repeated small reduction; obtolnedby drawing through successively smaller dies or by repeated stretching.Such reductions take place while the material is in a ductile condition.The preforming and orienting operations may be simultaneouslyaccomplished.

In making the filaments of twisted strips I rather than by extrusion thesheets from which the strips are to be taken are reduced to tho desiredthickness by repeated small reductions rather than by a single largereduction. These reductions taire place while the material is heated orwetted (depending on the material beina' used) The finished sheets arecut to strips and the lat- 'tertwistedintofilamentsioruseincoresortbelength of the how of the material oi the sheet represent thelongitudinal axis of the strips. Thereafter as the strips are twistedthey are heated or wetted- (depending on'the material concerned) and arestretched whereby-to further orient the molecules to have thelatteroriented in the direction of the length of the twisted strip andon a bias with respect to that which was the longitudinal axis of thestrip prior to the twisting thereof.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a cable or rope, a strand comprising inner and outer metalelements, said elements transversely circular and all of substantiallythe same diameter whereby in the assembled strand there arelongitudinally extending spaces, and smaller of said rings preformedinto the spirals occupied by them in the rope. and said elements or thepisstic material oriented along said spirals.

diameter longitudinally extending filler elements in said spaces andtangently engaging both the inner and outer of said metal elements, andsaid filler elements of a plastic material characterized by flexibilityand resiliency.

2. In a cable or rope, a strand comprising a central metal element, aring of smaller diameter elements about said central element, a ring ofmetal elements about said ring of smaller diameter elements and oflarger diameter, and said smaller diameter elements of a plasticmaterial characterized by flexibility and resiliency. P 3. In a cable orrope, a strand comprising inner and outer metal elements, said elementsthetic chemical material characterized by stretchability and by recoverywhen stretched whereby to transversely circular and all of substantiallythe same diameter whereby in theassembied strand there arelongitudinally extending spaces, and smaller diameter longitudinallyextending filler elements in said spaces and tangently engaging both theinner and outer of said metal elements, and said filler element's ofpolymerized vinylidene chloride.

4. In a cable or mm. a strand comprising a central metal element, a ringof smaller diame-- ter elements about said central element, a ring ofmetal elements about said ring of smaller diameter elements and oflarger diameter, and said smaller diameter elements of polymerizedvinylldene chloride..

5.. In a cable or rope. a strand comprising inner and outer metalelements, said elements transversely circular and all of substantiallythe same -diameter" whereby in the assembled strand there arelongitudinally extending filler elements in said spaces and tangentlyengaging both the inner outer of said metal elements, said fillerelements of a plastic material characterized by flexibility andresiliency, said metal and filler elements preformed into the spiralsoccupied by them in the I N. "1d

c. In a cable or -rope,-a strand eomprisinga centrarmetai element. aring or smaller diameter terizedbyilsxibilityand'resilieney.theelementsf.

c said filler elements oriented along their spiral line's.

7. A rope core comprising a single strand of layed rope of filaments ofa synthetic plastic material having fibre forming characteristics, saidfilaments preformed into the spirals occupied by them in the core, andsaid filaments oriented spirally-along the lines on which they arepreally supported by said core, said core comprising a smooth surfacedelongated body of a waterrepellent synthetic. chemical material immuneto decay through biochemical attack, and said synstretch and not breakon tensioning of the wire rope and to be capable of elongating andescaping 'into place from between wire strands of the rope when caughtby said strands on bird caging of the mm.

10. In a wire rope. a core and a plurality of strands of wires layedhelically about and radially supported by said core, said core compris-,

ing an elongated body of continuous, smooth surfaced filaments layedtogether, said filaments of a water-repellent synthetic chemicalmaterial im- 7 plastic material, wire ropes layed about said core,

each of said ropes including a secondary'coreof a synthetic plasticmaterial and a series of wires chemical attack, said synthetic chemicalmaterial,

when in filamentary form, by flexibility and elasticity, said wire ropesand wires under tension about and deforming said cores, and

said synthetic chemical material resilient wherebysaidcoresareconstantlytendingtoreturntotheir normal conditions and thusfully supportsaid .wire'rope'sandsaidwires.

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